Contributos dos doutores palha��os da Opera����o Nariz Vermelho para a qualidade da adapta����o e do desenvolvimento em contexto pedi��trico: o olhar da crian��a e seus pais

Tese de doutoramento em Ci��ncias da Educa����o (��rea Especialidade em Psicologia da Educa����o)

Neurobiologia da Cannabis: do sistema endocanabinoide aos transtornos por uso de Cannabis

OBJETIVOS: Diante das lacunas na efetividade das terap��uticas para transtornos por uso de Cannabis, a droga il��cita mais consumida no mundo, este trabalho prop��e-se a rever os conhecimentos sobre o substrato neuroanat��mico, biomolecular e celular do sistema endocanabinoide, descrever os mecanismos de neuroplasticidade dependente dos canabinoides e relacion��-los com a neurobiologia dos transtornos por uso de Cannabis (abuso e depend��ncia). M��TODOS: Recorreu-se ��s bases de dados Medline, Scopus e ISI Web of Knowledge; as palavras-chave pesquisadas foram "Cannabis", "neurobiology", "endocannabinoid system", "endocannabinoids", "receptors, cannabinoid", "neuronal plasticity", "long-term synaptic depression", "long-term potentiation", "marijuana abuse" e "tetrahydrocannabinol". Foram inclu��dos 80 trabalhos nesta revis��o. DISCUSS��O: A distribui����o neuroanat��mica, celular e biomolecular do sistema endocanabinoide adequa-se perfeitamente ��s suas fun����es de neuromodula����o (via neuroplasticidade e metaplasticidade), nomeadamente em vias relacionadas aos transtornos por uso de subst��ncias. Os canabinoides ex��genos perturbam essas fun����es. CONCLUS��O: O sistema endocanabinoide contribui para a defini����o de setpoints em diversas vias neuronais, incluindo vias cruciais na instala����o de transtornos por uso de subst��ncias; com o uso de Cannabis, esses setpoints tornar-se-��o mais permissivos, facilitando os transtornos por uso de Cannabis. Os avan��os no entendimento da neurobiologia da Cannabis abrem uma janela de oportunidades para novas estrat��gias terap��uticas nos transtornos por uso de Cannabis.

Typologies of post-divorce coparenting and parental well-being, parenting quality and children���s psychological adjustment

First published online: 30 October 2015

The Portuguese version of the Psychological Adjustment to Separation Test-Part A (PAST-A): a study with recently and non-recently divorced adults

Past research has demonstrated that divorced adults show more health problems and psychological distress than married adults. Considering the high prevalence rates of divorce among Western countries, new and robust measures should be developed to measure psychological distress after this specific transition in adulthood. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a Portuguese version of the Psychological Adjustment to Separation Test-Part A (PAST-A; Sweeper and Halford in J Family Psychol 20(4):632���640, 2006). PAST-A is a self-report measure that assesses two key dimensions of separation adjustment problems: lonely-negativity and former partner attachment. Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of PAST-A were assessed in terms of factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity, in an online convenience sample with divorced adults (N = 460). The PAST-A two-factor structure was confirmed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, with each factor demonstrating very satisfactory internal consistency and good convergence. In terms of discriminant validity, the Portuguese PAST-A reveals a distinct factor from psychological growth after divorce. The results provided support for the use of the Portuguese PAST-A with divorced adults and also suggested that the explicative factors of the psychological adjustment to divorce may be cross-cultural stable. The non-existence of validated divorce-related well-being measures and its implications for divorce research are also discussed.

Psychological approach to endometriosis: Women's pain experience and quality of life improvement

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting 10 to15% of women in childbearing age. Understanding the impact of this disease on women���s well-being is still a challenge, namely to intervene. Pain is the most current and troublesome symptom. Although medical treatments for pain relief are effective, recurrence rate remains significant, calling for a better understanding and development of new approaches for pain management. A group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for management of associated co-morbidities is suggested, paying special attention to Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP). CBT design can be grounded on information collected from focus groups and a one-group exploratory trial. Evaluation of therapy effectiveness is possible to be performed by comparing group CBT to Usual Care (UC) and Support Group (SG) in a randomized controlled trial. Research in this area could represent an important step in providing a solution to the management of endometriosis and, to the best of our knowledge, the first national psychological approach for its understanding and treatment.

Epidemiological aspects of adherence to the treatment of hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reasons given by patients for interrupting their pharmacological treatment of hypertension. METHODS: We carried out an observational cross-sectional study, in which a questionnaire was applied and blood pressure was measured in 401 patients in different centers of the state of Bahia. The patients selected had been diagnosed with hypertension and were not on antihypertensive treatment for at least 60 days. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 401 patients, 58.4% were females, 55.6% of whom white; 60.5% of the males were white. The major reasons alleged for not adhering to treatment were as follows (for males and females respectively): normalization of blood pressure (41.3% and 42.3%); side effects of the medications (31.7% and 24.8%); forgetting to use the medication (25.2% and 20.1%); cost of medication (21.6% and 20.1%); fear of mixing alcohol and medication (23.4% and 3.8%); ignoring the need for continuing the treatment (15% and 21.8%); use of an alternative treatment (11.4% and 17.1%); fear of intoxication (9.6% and 12.4%); fear of hypotension (9.6% and 12%); and fear of mixing the medication with other drugs (8.4% and 6.1%). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that most factors concerning the abandonment of the treatment of hypertension are related to lack of information, and that, despite the advancement in antihypertensive drugs, side effects still account for most abandonments of treatment.

Socioeconomic aspects of spousal concordance for hypertension, obesity, and smoking in a community of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to evaluate the environmental role in the distribution of hypertension, obesity, and smoking and spousal concordance for the presence/absence of these 3 cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The households were randomly selected. Odds ratios were estimated to measure spousal concordance, across socioeconomic levels.. RESULTS: Overall a significant aggregation of all 3 risk factors was present. The crude odds ratio for hypertension was 1.78 (95%CI=1.02-3.08); for obesity, it was 1.80 (95%CI=1.09-2.96); and for smoking, it was 3.40 (95% CI=2.07-5.61). The spousal concordance for hypertension decreased significantly (p<0.001) from the lower to the higher educational level. In the case of obesity and smoking, the opposite was observed, although p-values for the linear trend were 0.10 and 0.08, respectively. CONCLUSION: In lower socioeconomic levels, couples are more concordant for hypertension and discordant for smoking. For hypertension and smoking, education seems to be a discriminant stronger than income, but for obesity the 2 socioeconomic indicators seem to represent different aspects of the environmental determinants of risk factor distribution.

Filososof��a y Ciencia Computacional: Aspectos epistemol��gicos, ontol��gicos y metodol��gicos. Philosophy and Computing Sciencs: Epistemological, Ontological and Methodological Aspects.

Uno de los temas centrales del proyecto concierne la naturaleza de la ciencia de la computaci��n. La reciente aparici��n de esta disciplina sumada a su origen h��brido como ciencia formal y disciplina tecnol��gica hace que su caracterizaci��n a��n no est�� completa y menos a��n acordada entre los cient��ficos del ��rea. En el trabajo Three paradigms of Computer Science de A. Eden, se presentan tres posiciones admitidamente exageradas acerca de como entender tanto el objeto de estudio (ontolog��a) como los m��todos de trabajo (metodolog��a) y la estructura de la teor��a y las justificaciones del conocimiento inform��tico (epistemolog��a): La llamada racionalista, la cual se basa en la idea de que los programas son f��rmulas l��gicas y que la forma de trabajo es deductiva, la tecnocr��tica que presenta a la ciencia computacional como una disciplina ingenieril y la ahi llamada cient��fica, la cual asimilar��a a la computaci��n a las ciencias emp��ricas. Algunos de los problemas de ciencia de la computaci��n est��n relacionados con cuestiones de filosof��a de la matem��tica, en particular la relaci��n entre las entidades abstractas y el mundo. Sin embargo, el car��cter prescriptivo de los axiomas y teoremas de las teor��as de la programaci��n puede permitir interpretaciones alternativas y cuestionar��a fuertemente la posibilidad de pensar a la ciencia de la computaci��n como una ciencia emp��rica, al menos en el sentido tradicional. Por otro lado, es posible que el tipo de an��lisis aplicado a las ciencias de la computaci��n propuesto en este proyecto aporte nuevas ideas para pensar problemas de filosof��a de la matem��tica. Un ejemplo de estos posibles aportes puede verse en el trabajo de Arkoudas Computers, Justi?cation, and Mathematical Knowledge el cual echa nueva luz al problema del significado de las demostraciones matem��ticas.Los objetivos del proyecto son: Caracterizar el campo de las ciencias de la computaci��n.Evaluar los fundamentos ontol��gicos, epistemol��gicos y metodol��gicos de la ciencia de la computaci��n actual.Analizar las relaciones entre las diferentes perspectivas heur��sticas y epist��micas y las practicas de la programaci��n.

Aspectos moleculares del desarrollo de biofilms, la colonizaci��n de la planta y la emisi��n de compuestos org��nicos vol��tiles en bacterias rizosf��ricas. Molecular aspects of biofilm development, plant colonization and microbial volatile organic emission in rhizospheric bacteria.

Las bacterias que habitan la rizosfera y que poseen la capacidad de provocar un efecto positivo sobre las plantas son denominadas en su conjunto como Rizobacterias Promotoras del Crecimiento Vegetal (PGPR). Estas bacterias han desarrollado diferentes estrategias para adaptarse a diversas condiciones ambientales. La capacidad para responder a variaciones en la disponibilidad nutricional permite la persistencia de la bacteria en el suelo y mejora sus posibilidades para colonizar la planta hospedadora. En la naturaleza, a menudo las bacterias se encuentran en estructuras de comunidades de microorganismos interconectados denominados biofilms, con un estilo de vida diferente al de la vida en forma planct��nica. La formaci��n del biofilm podr��a representar una estrategia de supervivencia de la rizobacteria a condiciones adversas del suelo. Por Microscop��a Confocal de Barrido L��ser (CLSM), hemos observado que Rhizobium leguminosarum desarrolla un biofilm caracter��stico sobre una superficie abi��tica. Hemos identificado algunos de los factores gen��ticos que influyen en su formaci��n. El presente proyecto propone avanzar en el conocimiento de los factores ambientales y gen��ticos que influyen sobre la capacidad de las rizobacterias para formar biofilms y su impacto en la interacci��n con las plantas. A trav��s de enfoques gen��ticos (mutacionales y de expresi��n g��nica) y an��lisis por CLSM nos proponemos acercarnos a un modelo de los factores de superficie, extracelulares y regulatorios propios de la bacteria que influyen en las propiedades de adhesi��n y la formaci��n de biofilms. Por ��ltimo, se intentar�� correlacionar la emisi��n de compuestos org��nicos vol��tiles por las bacterias rizosf��ricas con ciertos aspectos de la promoci��n del crecimiento de las plantas.

Aspectos bioqu��micos y celulares de la reproducci��n de los vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas: regulaci��n e importancia fisiol��gica. Biochemical and cellular aspects of the reproduction of Chagas��� disease vectors: regulation and physiologycal impact

En la hip��tesis de trabajo del presente proyecto se considera la importancia del metabolismo de l��pidos y prote��nas en los insectos hemat��fagos, en particular en los vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas, para afrontar exitosamente la demanda energ��tica de la reproducci��n. Las hembras de estas especies pueden ingerir una comida de sangre abundante en l��pidos y prote��nas, los que son modificados en el intestino para su utilizaci��n y posterior almacenamiento en estructuras organizadas en el tejido ov��rico, sustentando as�� el r��pido crecimiento de los ovocitos. Estos aspectos resultan cr��ticos para el ciclo de vida del insecto y para el mantenimiento de la cadena epidemiol��gica de la enfermedad. En estas especies, recientemente hemos caracterizado a nivel bioqu��mico y celular la interacci��n entre lipoprote��nas y tejidos [Fruttero y col., Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 39: 322-331 (2009); Fruttero y col. Biocel 33 (3): 260 (2009)] y las fases del ciclo reproductivo [Aguirre y col., J. Insect Physiol. 54: 393-402 (2008)]. No obstante, los factores que participan en su regulaci��n son a��n escasamente conocidos. En este contexto, el estudio propone emplear dos especies de triatominos con el objeto de: (1) caracterizar los factores involucrados en la formaci��n y regulaci��n de reservas nutricionales en los ovocitos; (2) analizar los eventos que participan en la regresi��n del tejido ov��rico: atresia folicular y mecanismos de muerte celular. (3) evaluar el impacto de productos naturales (ureasas vegetales y p��ptidos derivados) en el desarrollo del tejido ov��rico. Para la ejecuci��n de los objetivos se llevar��n a cabo ensayos in vivo e in vitro con trazadores fluorescentes, fraccionamiento subcelular, estudios de expresi��n de prote��nas (mRNA y prote��na), estudios histo-morfol��gicos, ultraestructurales e inmunocitoqu��micos, microscop��a l��ser confocalizada, ensayos de actividad enzim��tica, ELISA, western-blot, electroforesis bidimensional, espectrometria de masas en t��ndem, etc. Tambi��n se evaluar��n los mecanismos de muerte celular (apoptosis/autofagia) mediante microscop��a electr��nica, detecci��n de apoptosis in situ (TUNEL), inmunofluorescencia, etc. Los resultados obtenidos permitir��n un mejor conocimiento sobre la fisiolog��a y bioqu��mica de estos vectores, los que resultan indispensables en el dise��o de nuevas estrategias para su control. Debido a la carencia de un tratamiento espec��fico para la enfermedad y a la falta de m��todos preventivos (vacuna), el control del vector es una de las v��as m��s importantes para reducir la incidencia de la enfermedad. Actualmente, la situaci��n socio-econ��mica que sufren amplios n��cleos de nuestra poblaci��n propicia condiciones de vida que facilitan la reproducci��n de los vectores y la transmisi��n vectorial del par��sito. El estudio permitir�� adem��s explorar aspectos bioqu��micos y celulares b��sicos, generando conocimientos que podr��an ser extensivos a otros insectos de importancia econ��mica en la ganader��a y/o agricultura. The aim of this project is to analyze the biochemical and cellular events involved in the lipid and protein metabolism in Chagas' disease vectors, and to evaluate their impact on the physiology of reproduction, particularly in the formation of nutritional resources in developing oocytes. At present, little is known about these critical aspects for the life cycle of the insect and for the epidemiology of the disease. The experimental approaches, which will be carried out using two species of triatomines, were designed: (1) to characterize factors involved in the formation and regulation of nutritional resources in developing oocytes; (2) to analyze the biochemical and cellular events that play a role during the regression of ovarian tissue, including the processes of oocyte resorption and programmed cell death. (3) to evaluate the impact of natural products (ureases from jackbean and related peptides) in the development of ovarian tissue. Methods and techniques involved in the project are: in vivo and in vitro assays with fluorescent tracers, ELISA, chemical assays, enzyme activities, western-blot; protein expression (mRNA), histological techniques, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. Cell death will be analyzed by detection of apoptosis in situ (TUNEL), immunofluorescence (for autophagy), among others. The results obtained from the study will offer the opportunity to explore important aspects in the biology and physiology of Chagas' disease vectors that could be of potential utility in designing alternative strategies for the control of the insect.

Transitions to fatherhood in East Germany in the 1990s : psychological determinants of childbearing and the meaning of entering into parenthood for young adults from Rostock ; an event-history and qualitative composite investigation within the Rostock longitudinal survey

East Germany, men, fertility, first births, event history analysis, problem-centered interviews, methodical integration, triangulation, social psychology, gender